Automatic multiple time switch



April 29, 1941. J. c. GILLETTE AUTOMATIC MULTIPLE TIME SWITCH Filed March 6, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3

FIG. 1

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April 29, 1941. J. c. GILLETTE AUTOMATIC MULTIPLE TIME SWITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1939 FIG. '3

FIG. 4

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FIG 11 FIG. 10

FIG. 12

April 29, 1941- J. c. GILLETTE MJTOIATIC MULTIPLE TIME SWITCH .Filed March 6, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 14

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Patented Apr. 29; 1941 AUTOMATIC MULTIPLE TIME SWITCH John C. Gillette, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Cap Products Inc., Dayton Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application March 6, 1939, Serial No. 259,937 11 Claims. (Cl. zoo-as The present invention relates to automatic time switches and particularly to those switches which employ a plurality of pairs of longitudinal arms carrying contact points at their extremities.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an automatic time switch capable of making and breaking circuits, carrying large currents, and having a minimum number of parts and of simple design. This object is attained in brief by dividing the load current into two ormore portions, and passing each current portion through separate circuits which are individually made and broken by a multi-contact time switch. The contacts of the latter are controlled by arms which are operated by a clock mechanism, and

' the various movements of the arms are brought out by levers secured to a timing dial which is provided with a special gear mechanism to introduce a slow and accurate time adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a time switch of the multi-contact type, in which the contacts are automatically wiped during operation so as to present clean contact surfaces at all times, which offer the minimum resistance to current flow and minimum heating eflects. This object is attained'in brief-by pivotally mounting one end of the contact-carrying arms on the switch and during a period immediately before the contacts open, moving each pair of arms as a unit on their respectivev pivots, which causes one arm to move slightly in the longitudinal direction with respect to the other arm. This longitudinal movement causes the surface oione contact to slide over the surface of the other contact.

A still further object is to provide a switch capable of making and breaking a plurality of circuits and necessitating a plurality of contacts for each circuit, said switch being so constructed that the break is made practically instantaneously at each set of contacts without drawing an arc, whereby excessive pitting" is avoided. This object is attained in brief by securing the corresponding arm of each set of contacts together and providing a spring common to the arms which are secured together for moving the contacts carried by said arms away from the opposing contacts at a high rate of speed.

Another object is to provide a time switch for controlling a plurality of circuits, necessitating a set of contacts per circuit, and in which the arms which carry the contacts are provided with a self-aligning feature by which the contacts are adapted to be simultaneously closed and a firm seating of the contacts over their entire area is obtained. This object is attained in brief by providing a circuit-closing spring for each set of contacts, the function of the spring being to close the contacts to which it is assigned and without interference with or by the springs which ,cldse the other contacts.

Other objects and features will be apparent as the specification is perused in connection 'with 7 the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a front plan view of a box with its cover in open position, the box containing the improved time switch;

Figure 2 is a plan view, looking at the rear of the switch, with the box in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view, looking at the back of the front panel 'of theswitch and the motor, and all of the gears being removed and each of the shafts in section;

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the improved switch removed from the box; v

Figure 5 shows a vertical section taken through the switch, While Figure 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 in dial, showing the latter partly in section;

contacts and arms of the modified form of switch Figure 12 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the contact-carrying arms having one of the contacts formed with a partially concave surface;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in elevation, of a modified form of the improved switch removed from the box. In this figure, the

motor and the gearing have been removed;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view of the lower shown in Figure 13. This figure, as in the case of Figure '7, is intended to illustrate the manner in which flexibility and self-adjustment are provided between the arms to insure a firm .and simultaneous closure of all the contacts.

Referring tothe drawings in detail, particularly Figures 1 and 5, the switch-proper includes two pairs of arms I, 2 and 3, 4, of which only the uppermost pair I, 2 can be seen in. Figure 1.

The arms I, I (Figure are pivotaliy mounted on a rod 5, which extends through a front panel member 5 of insulating material and is secured to a back panel member I in any suitable manner (not shown). Likewise, the arms 2, 4 (Figure 5) are pivotally mounted on a rod 8 which passes through the front panel member 5 and is also secured to the back panel member 1 in any suitable manner (not shown). These arms take the form preferably of a rectangular cross section and are made of a hard insulating material such as ebonite, etc. The panels 8 and 'l are preferably made of sheet ebonite or similar insulating material.

At their ends opposite thepivots 5, 8, the front arms I, 2 carry a pair of contacts 9, ill (Figure 1), and the lower arms 3, 4 carry the corresponding contacts I I, I2 (Figure 4). These contacts are preferably constituted of silver and of a thickness that permits the arms to maintain a substantially parallel position when the contacts are closed. This parallel arrangement is shown in Figures 1, 8 and 9.

The upper panel 6 has secured thereto, as by the screws it, a terminal board i4 of ebonite which carries a pair of relatively large hollow terminals l5 secured to the terminal board M by the screw bolts ll. Heavy wires l8 (Figure 4) are taken from the bolts ll to each of the contacts 9, ill. The connection is conveniently made at the arms through a cap terminal i9. Conductors are carried from the terminals i5 through the sides of the box 2i which contains the switch.

The lower panel 'I is secured to the top surface of a metal plate 22 by means of the screws 23 and 24, also the screws i3, the panel and metal plate being arranged in coextensive relation. The lower edge of the panel I and the plate 22, as seen in Figure 1, carries a terminal block 25 of ebonite, to which they are secured by the Joiner plates 25. The block 25 has mounted thereon two outer terminals 21 and an intermediate terminal 24, all of fairly large size. Heavy conductors 29 are taken from the outer terminals 21, and a similar conductor 30 is connected to the intermediate terminal 28. The two terminals 21 are connected through heavy wires 3| to the contacts ll, l2 (Figure 4), the connections being conveniently made through metal cap terminals 22.

The metal plate 22 is separated from a back plate 32 by a number of spacers 34 to form a compartment within which a system of gears is located, which obtain their actuation from an electrical motor 35. The plate 22 also carries on its underside. as seen more clearly in Figure 3, a spring-operated latch which 'is controlled by levers secured to a time dial 35 and is operated periodically in any suitable manner, for ex-- ample, by a clock mechanism driven by the motor 35.

As shown more-particularly in Figure 5, a rod 21 passes sidewise through the arms i and 3 and through an opening in the panel 6, this rod being fixedly secured to the arm i and extending to a .position Just inside of the under surface of the plate 22. It is preferred that the opening in the bar I, which receives the rod 31 shall be somewhat larger than the rod so as to leave a clearance. as indicated at II. A spring 39 is secured between the inner end of the rod 21 and a lug on the underside of the plate 22. As will be seen more clearly from Figure 3, the rod 31 extends through the arms l,-l at positions remote from the pivot 5. From the description given up to this point, it is obvious that a pressure on the top of either of the bars i, 3 will cause both arms to move downwardly on their pivots 5 againstthe tension of the spring 39.

The lower arm 4 is provided with a rod 4| which fits tightly in the arm and extends as far as the underside of the plate 22. where it is connected by a tension spring 42 to a lug 43 secured to the plate 22. The other lower arm 2 is also provided with a rod 44 which projects through an opening in the arm 4, considerably larger than the rod, as indicated at 45, and terminates just beyond the inner surface of the plate 22. A spring 45 is connected between the inner end of the rod 43 and 9. lug 41 on the plate 22.

As seen more clearly in Figure 3, the plate 22 and the overlapping panel I are provided with openings 48 to permit a vertical movement of the rods 31, 4i and 43. The plate is also provided with a rectangular cut-out portion 49 which is in line with a slot 5|! formed in the panel 1 to permit the leads 2i which pass through the plate and panel to move in a vertical direction, as the arms I and 4 are operated in a manner which will be described hereinafter.

In' addition to the springs 39, 42 and 45, the underside of the plate 22 carries a latch 5i which is pivoted at 52 and is biased by a spring 53 which tends to move the upper portion of the latch to the left. This portion is provided with a tooth 54, the lower surface of which is flat and extends perpendicularly to the leg of the latch and the upper surface is of arcuate configuration, as indicated at 55. The tooth 54 is adapted to cooperate with a pin 56 which extends through a large opening 51 in the plate 22 and the panel i into the arm 4, to which it is secured, as indicated in Figure 7. The upper surface of this pin is preferably flied flat in order to firmly engage the lower surface of the tooth 54.

The pivot 52 of the lever ii is carried through the plate '22 and the panel I to a contact-closing lever 58 positioned on the front side of the front panel 5. The latter is provided with an arcuate cutaway portion indicated at 58 so as to permit the lever 58 to project beyond the upper edge of the panel, as can be seen in Figures 8, 9 and The time dial 36, which determines the time at which the switch will close and open or vice versa, is markedon its front face with divisions indicating hourly and fifteen minute intervals for twenty-four hours. This dial carries a contact-closing trigger it which projects outwardly from the front face of the dial. The trigger is positioned on a bearing sleeve located at the under surface of the dial and on a shaft, both of which are hereinafter described. The dial also carries a. lever 6i which is-termed a reset trigger, since itserves to trigger the arms through a reset position to the open contact position. The reset trigger is positioned at the underside of the dial, similar to the contact-closing trigger BI and extends inwardly toward the panel I, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

As the dial revolves clockwise, by the actuation of the motor 25 which will also be described presently, the trigger 4| will move the, contact-closthe pin 55, permitting the lower arm 4 to move upwardly by the urge of the spring 42. The

with the arm 4 under these conditions due to. the

fact that this arm is coupled with the arm 4 through the rod. and will be urged upwardly by its own spring 46. It is apparent that, as the tooth 54 is withdrawn from the pin 58, when the latch BI is rotated, the lower surface of the pin 88 will ride the 'arcuate surface 55 of the tooth 84.

- As a preliminary condition to opening the, contacts, assuming that they have been closed, the two pairs of arms I, 2 and I, 4 are rotated downwardly on their pivots to a so-called reset position. This resetting operation is produced by the rotating effect of the reset trigger 6| which bears down on a metal plate 62 secured to the upper side of the arm 8. The lefthand edge (as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 18) of the plate 82 is undercut so as to provide a sharp disengaging effect between the trigger 8| and the plate.-

In order to facilitate the proper setting of the reset trigger 8| with respect to the dial so as to bring about the reset operation with great time accuracy, 9. vertical white line 88 (Figure 8) is drawn transversely of the black ebonite arm I to indicate the position that the reset trigger assumes when the reset operation is initiated.

It will be understood that,.even if the contacts 8, I8, II and I2 were initially partially spherical, as illustrated in Figures 4, 8, 9 and 10, they would tend to flatten after continued use so that it is necessary that all Parts of the contacts touch one another. Indeed, as seen in Figure 12, the lower contacts I8 and I2 may be provided with a concave surface so as to fit the convex surface of the upper contacts 8, I I.

The rotor of the motor is connected through a series of gears to drive a large main gear I4 (Figure 11). The latter gear is carried on a shaft 15, but is not keyed thereto and instead is secured to the shaft by a spring device described presently. The gear I4 has a countersunk portion into which fits a washer I8. The shaft I has securely attached thereto a pinion 11 which abuts the washer I8. The lefthand end of the shaft, as shown in Figure 5, is provided with a nut I8 firmly secured to the shaft; and between the nut and the gear I4, there is positioned a spring washer I8 held under compression by the nut I8.

It is apparent that, if a force were applied to cause the shaft I5 to move slightly to the right (as seen in Figure 5), the spring washer 18 will force the gear I4 against the lefthand face of the pinion 11, causing the gear 48 to drive the shaft I5. On the other hand, inasmuch as the gear is attached to the shaft I5 only through the frictional effect exerted by the washer I8, the shaft can be turned without rotating the gear if sufiicient rotational effect were exercised. The manner in which the force tends to move the shaft along its axis in order frlctionally to tighten the gear 14 on the shaft, and the force which is capable of turning the pinion without rotating the gear 14 will be pointed out when the remainder of the gear mechanism has been described.

' 'Ilhere is a long multi-shouldered sleeve 88 which extends through an opening in the plate 22 and is permitted to idle on the shaft IS. The right hand end of the sleeve is provided with screw and the reset trigger it.

ter and which," in turn, carries on its shoulders the time dial 88, the circuit closing trigger 88 If the nut 8| were not tightened, these triggers and the dial are-free to rotate on the shoulders of the sleeve 82, but are prevented from moving oil. the shoulders by an oiIset end (not shown) formed at the extreme lefthand end of the sleeve.

The portion of the triggers 88, SI, which is immediately adjacent tothe shaft 15, has a configuration similar to a fiat washer so that the triggers and the dial can be tightened on the sleeve 82 by an axial force acting on these triggers in a direction toward the nut 58. In other words, the nut can draw up the two triggers and the dial against its'under surface. For this purpose, there is provided a spacing cylinder 88 which contacts with one of the shoulders on the sleeve 88 and also with the flat washer-like surface of the trigger 88.

It is therefore apparent that, as the nut 8| is tightened, it draws up on the sleeve 88 which exerts a compressional force against the spacer cylinder 88 which, in turn, forces the two triggersand the dial against the righthand shoulder of the sleeve 82. The latter is preferably spaced away from the nut 8| by a washer which permits the nut to be turned readily. As the nut is loosened, the dial and the two triggers are free to rotate on the sleeve 82 independently of one another.

. The shaft 15 is carried through the entire length of the sleeve 88 and terminates in a screw-threaded end 85, carrying a knurled nut 88. It is apthreads for receivin the threaded opening of a of the sleeve-88 which is of the smallest diameparent that, as this nut is rotated. the shaft I5 is likewise rotated, causing the pinion TI to be rotated against the frictional effect of the nut I8 and the spring washer I8. and without turning the large gear I4. This pinion 'II meshes with a large gear 81 (Figure 11), carried on a shaft 88 secured to the plate 22, and the shaft carries a pinion 88. The latter drives a gear 88 which is firmly secured to the lefthand shoulder of the sleeve 88. Assuming that the nut 8| has been tightened on the sleeve 88 so that the triggers 88, GI and the dial 36 are likewise tightened, any rotation of the nut 88 will turn the pinion II, and through the gears 81, 88 and 88 will rotate the sleeve 88, causing the dial and the two triggers firmly secured thereto to be rotated.

In Figure 14, I have shown an-improved switch in which a third pair of contacts and operating arms have been added, all controlled by the same dial and motor mechanism. This construction is in general similar to that shown and described in connection with the earlier figures and for that reason, corresponding reference characters have been employed to design-ate similar parts The additional parts include a panel 88 and an extra set of arms 88, I88, carrying contacts I8I,

As seen in Figure 14, the third arm I88 is ca'rried on the end of a rod I86 which passesloosely through the arms 2, 4 to the underside of the plate 22. A spring I81 is connected between the inner end of the rod I88 and a lug (not shown) on the underside of the plate 22. It is apparent that'all three arms 4, 2, I88 operate in unison about their respective pivots to close the contacts when the lever 58 is tripped by the trigger 88. The same latch 5| (Figure 3) operates to control the arm I88 as well as the arms 2, 4 and,

of course, the same reset mechanism is also employed. By providing openings in the arms 2, 4 (Figure 14), which are greater in diameter than the rod I", the arm I permits its contact'to align itself with the corresponding upper contact and to cause a simultaneous closingot the circuit with the circuits oi the remaining pairs of contacts. 7

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope oi the claims and the invention.

Having thus iully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i'. A time switch comprising a plurality of pairs to rigid coextensive parallelly disposed arm A. B, said arms being rotatably mounted on sepa-' rate axes at one end on the switch and carrying at their opposite ends contacts for making and breaking circuits, spring-operated means for simultaneously rotating arm A of each pair away from arm B of each pair to open the contacts, spring-operated means for simultaneously rotating arm B of each pair toward arm A of each pair simultaneously to close the contacts, and automatic means iorprevent'ing the operation of said last-mentioned means until after a predetermined length of time.

suriaces, and means for moving the arms relatively to one another to open the contacts.

3. An automatic time switch comprising a plurality 0! .pairs of parallelly disposed rigid coextensive arms, said arms being pivotaily mounted at one end on the switch and ca y at the opposite endscontacis for making and breaking circuits, ,means for maintaining the arms in a closed contact position, time-operated means for moving all oi said arms as auni't and in parallel relation about their pivots to a reset position, whereby the arms of each pair are moved iongitudinally with respect to one another and a wiping action takes place at the contact surfaces,

and spring-operated means for moving the arms relatively to one another to open the contacts.

4. A switch comprising a plurality oi pairs of rigid coextensive paralleliy disposed arms, said arms being pivotaliy mounted at one end on the switch and carrying at the opposite ends contacts for making and breaking circuits, means for simultaneously mining the arms of each pair in an open contact position, means for simultaneously moving the arms of each pair into a closed contact position, and means for simultaneously resetting the arms 01' each pair while maintaining a parallel relation of the arms ready to be moved into the open contact position by said first-mentioned means.

5. An automatic time switch compris z a Pair oi. rigid coextensive parallelly disposed arms, said arms being pivotally mounted at one end on the switch and carrying at the opposite ends contacts for making and breaking circuits, spring- 75 operated means for simultaneously maintaining the arms of each pair in an open contact position, time-operated means for simultaneously moving the armsot each pair into a closed contact position, and time-operated means for simultaneously resetting the arms of each pair while maintaining a parallel relation of the arms ready to be moved into open contact position by said first-mentioned means.

6. An automatic time switch comprising a plurality oi pairs oi parallelly disposed coextensive arms, said arms being pivotaliy mounted at one end on the switch and carrying at the opposite ends contacts for making and breaking circuits, spring-operated means for simultaneously maintaining the arms 0! each pair in an open contact position, time-operated means for simultaneously moving the arms of each pair into a closed contact position, and time-operated means ibr simultaneously resetting the arms or each pair ready to be moved into the open contact position by said first-mentioned means, said resetting means serving to rotate the arms of each pair together as a unit about their pivots whereby the arms of each pair move longitudinally Witnrespect to one another and a wiping action takes place at the contact surfaces.

7. A switch comprising a. plurality of pairs of rigid coextensive arms A, B, said arms being pivotally mounted at one end and on the switch and carrying at their opposite ends contacts for making and breaking the circuits, said contacts being normally open, said arms A being arranged in parallel alignment and operated simultaneously, said arms B being arranged in parallel alignment and operated simultaneously, and means for moving arms B as a group toward arms A during which period the arms B flexibly adjust themselves to provide a flrm closure betweencontacts.

8. A time switch comprising a plurality of pairs of rigid coextensive arms A, B, said arms being pivotallymounted at one end on the switch and carrying at their opposite ends contacts for making and breaking circuits, spring-operated means for simultaneously moving the arm A away from the arms B to open the contacts, spring-operated means for simultaneously moving the arms B toward their respective arms A to close the contacts, the arms A be g Operated simultaneously, and the arms B being flexibly secured together, whereby the arms A, B align themselves to provide a simultaneous seating 01 allthe contacts when the switch is closed.

9. A switch comprising a plurality of pairs of rigid arms A, B, arranged in parallel coextensive relation, saidarms being pivoted on the switch at one end and carrying contacts at the other end for p n ng and closing circuits, a rod connected to the arms A and a spring secured to said rod to swing thearms A about their pivots into open circuit position, a separate rod connected to each oi said arms B, a spring secured to each of said last-mentioned rods to swing each arm B about its pivot into closed circuit position, and means for controlling the operation of the contact-opening and contact-closing springs.

10. A switch comprising a plurality of pairs oi arms A, B arranged in parallel coextensive relation, said arms being pivoted on the switch at one end and carrying contacts at the other end for opening and closing circuits, a rod connected to the arms A and a spring secured to said rod to swing the arms A about their pivots into open circuit position, a separate md con- 2,240,000 nected to each of said'arms B, said last-mentioned rods passing through openings in the arms B, said openings being of greater size than the rod except at the arm to which the rod is secured, whereby flexibility is introduced between the switch and carrying at the opposite ends contacts for making and breaking circuits,

spring-operated means for simultaneously moving the arm B of each pair toward arm A of each pair for closing the contacts, time-operated means for simultaneously moving arms A, B

of each pairas a unit on both pivots of each pair to a second position, means for simultaneously locking the arm B of each pair in a second position, spring-operated means for simultaneously returning arm A of each pair to its initial position, and timemperated means for releasing said locking means whereby arm -B of each pair is permitted to be moved by its sprung-operated means to its contact-closing position.

JOHN C. GILLETTE. 

